Two Aging Things
Sep. 9th, 2013 09:17 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
chris_gerribTwo aging things, united only by being in my mind.
Aging Thing #1
The University of Illinois, one of my alma maters, has a telescope on campus. It's 117 years old, and no longer of much use for scientific pursuits. It is, however, rather more impressive than what you'll see in a typical back yard. Comes news that private funds were used to renovate the telescope and observatory, getting both back in operation.
Aging Thing #2
There's been quite a bit of discussion about how SF fandom is aging, and exhibit #4321 was the crowd at the last Worldcon. Now, I wasn't there and so didn't see the crowd. I will say that looking for Teh Kidz on the same weekend as DragonCon is like looking for Baptists on the Las Vegas strip. (Hint - there aren't very many.)
Having said that, I found this discussion entitled Three Graying Fandoms of interest. It's a long read and only of interest to geeks, but it's interesting. Now, two of the three fandoms (birding and gardening) are of a nature to require money and time, something that is more typically found in folks with established jobs and kids who are old enough to be self-sufficient.
Perhaps SF fandon (or at least the going-to-Worldcon portion) also fits in that category. I've been to two Worldcons, and even the one local to me (Chicon) was every bit of a thousand-dollar bill, plus several days vacation time. But back to the article - we can and need to be more welcoming to outsiders, be they Mundanes in the hotel elevator or Teh Kidz with badges.
Aging Thing #1
The University of Illinois, one of my alma maters, has a telescope on campus. It's 117 years old, and no longer of much use for scientific pursuits. It is, however, rather more impressive than what you'll see in a typical back yard. Comes news that private funds were used to renovate the telescope and observatory, getting both back in operation.
Aging Thing #2
There's been quite a bit of discussion about how SF fandom is aging, and exhibit #4321 was the crowd at the last Worldcon. Now, I wasn't there and so didn't see the crowd. I will say that looking for Teh Kidz on the same weekend as DragonCon is like looking for Baptists on the Las Vegas strip. (Hint - there aren't very many.)
Having said that, I found this discussion entitled Three Graying Fandoms of interest. It's a long read and only of interest to geeks, but it's interesting. Now, two of the three fandoms (birding and gardening) are of a nature to require money and time, something that is more typically found in folks with established jobs and kids who are old enough to be self-sufficient.
Perhaps SF fandon (or at least the going-to-Worldcon portion) also fits in that category. I've been to two Worldcons, and even the one local to me (Chicon) was every bit of a thousand-dollar bill, plus several days vacation time. But back to the article - we can and need to be more welcoming to outsiders, be they Mundanes in the hotel elevator or Teh Kidz with badges.
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no subject
Date: 2013-09-09 03:44 pm (UTC)What the author doesn't do is provide any suggested alternative for running large meetings with lots of people who don't agree on various things (up or down, black or white, the colour of the sky on their planet etc...)
I've dabbled in politics and formalized committee structures with rules on how you consider things are essential if things aren't going to fly apart in seconds.
It might be an age related thing too, but complicated shit doesn't just magically come together in an afternoon because you want it to.
no subject
Date: 2013-09-09 03:52 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-09-09 04:31 pm (UTC)The thrust of several comments from people all saying they're 30(ish) is that the use of Roberts Rules blocks them from taking part because it's hard to learn and pick up and if you have to learn something and work at it, then it's not inclusive. I'm paraphrasing slightly, but that's what I read.
Sure, and annoyingly they don't make you CEO when you turn up for work on your first day either.
She was upset that she didn't really understand what was going on in the business meeting and didn't understand all the formality to get things done. There's a comment in there about all they needed was a hand count and give everybody with something to say 2 minutes and then vote.
Sometimes I feel much older than I actually am, and today is one of them.
no subject
Date: 2013-09-09 05:55 pm (UTC)Having never arsed myself to attend a Worldcon business meeting, I wouldn't know.
no subject
Date: 2013-09-09 07:50 pm (UTC)And thanks!